Every moment that marks progress or a step into a “new life” inspires people to come up with customs. That’s how it always was and always will be! The creation of customs and their connection through time and space creates a tradition. Tradition is a picture of a nation, on which ornaments and colors are customs. Our nation also has a rich tradition. Perhaps the most numerous are the customs related to weddings, ie weddings.
A wedding, ie a wedding, unites two lives and two families. Habits and values are mixed, characters are mixed. This is how a new world is born, a new generation that takes with it everything inherited. He remembers and respects, transmits and nurtures all the customs instilled by his ancestors.
As many families, as many wedding customs. Out of the multitude, we can mention only a few, one would say the most common.
Inviting guests with a buklia (decorated flask) – The groom’s parents or someone close to them decorates a wooden flask (buklia) with fresh flowers and an apple, fills it with homemade brandy and visits the families inviting them to the wedding. As a sign of their arrival, the guests drink some brandy and give a gift that is hung on the bukli (money, peshkir, etc.). After visiting the guests, gifts are given to the newlyweds.
Red thread around the waist- After the entire preparation of the bride, the bridesmaids tie a red thread around her waist. When the sirens of the wedding party coming to pick up the bride are heard, the bridesmaids quickly tear the red thread. If they break the thread with ease, it is believed that the bride will have an easy delivery.
Shooting in the apple – When the groom arrives in front of the bride’s house with the wedding party, he is faced with a task that the bride’s father has prepared. The high-placed apple should be hit by the groom with a rifle shot. A hit in the apple shows the groom’s willingness to protect his future family. As a reward for this hit, he gets a bride.
Decoration – All present wedding guests are decorated with decorations prepared by young unmarried women from the bride’s or groom’s side. These can be creations from natural flowers or various artificial decorations. Guests of honor – best man, old wedding party, parents, flag bearer… receive special decorations. As compensation for the adornment, the girls receive symbolic sums of money which they divide among themselves.
Tossing the Biedermeier- After the civil wedding ceremony, the bride throws her Biedermeier (flower arrangement) towards a group of single young women. It is believed that the one who catches the Biedermeier will be married first.
Throwing a sieve – upon arrival at the groom’s house, his mother gives the bride a sieve to throw on the roof of the house. If the sieve is kept on the roof, the bride will stay forever in that home.
Afterwards- Before entering the groom’s house, the bride should lift the youngest male child from the groom’s family three times. This symbolizes many healthy children in the marriage.
Sending off the best man from the wedding – It is customary to see the best man off from the wedding with the full attention of all the guests, especially the host. The best man is usually sent off with music, very often with trumpeters.
There are more than sixty customs, but it is certain that every region has at least one of the ones listed here.
If you are planning a wedding, go ahead – provide a wedding invitation for guests. Find Buklia at www.izradasuvenira.com.